Village Administrator Ric Beals reported to council during their March 12 meeting that he and Street Supervisor Jim Eisel were able to acquire a newer model dump truck to replace the 1982 model that the village had been using. The 2004 one-ton 2 wheel drive GMC had 77,000 miles on it when it was purchased by the village and has already seen a slight increase in that number as it was almost immediately put into service to aid with snow removal. The Village will be advertising to take bids on the 1982 truck that was taken out of service.
Beals also reported that he is continuing to work on severe weather notifications to replace the severe weather siren that has been out of service. Research by Village Solicitor Ryan Thompson turned up no requirement for the village to possess an actual siren so warning system and previously discussed mobile alert systems will continue to be researched as an option to replace the siren.
With the severity of the winter, Beals also reported another water main break around 719 E. Jackson Street on March 7. This break, along with the other breaks and service issues are being documented as they may provide useful in procuring future grants to repair portions of the outdated infrastructure.
Beals also reported that, as village employees have continued to work at snow removal over the season, he has received several compliments and only a few complaints about the work being done. Beals thanked the citizens of the community for their patience and expressed additional gratitude to business owners Tim Nofiziger, Paul and Andrew Heisey, Chuck Klinger, Jason and Carrie King, and Dave Short for going beyond their own businesses and helping the village with snow removal on the downtown sidewalks. It was a sentiment echoed by both Mayor Peggy Bernath as well as all of the council members.
Fiscal Officer Becky Thatcher reported that the 2012 and 2013 audit process has begun, that both she and Beals gained a lot of useful information during their recent training in Columbus, and that she has received notice that she has been awarded an Ohio Municipal Clerks Association Scholarship for the April 2014 Spring Institute. The scholarship will lead to a cost savings for the village of the $185.00 registration fee that Thatcher would have otherwise needed to have paid in order to attend.
No legislative matters were brought before council and council moved into executive session for the purpose of discussing employee compensation. No further action was taken.